Salewa Aria Helmet

I popped into RockRun on my way home from a holiday in the Lake District, looking for a new climbing helmet. I wanted some in person help, and also wanted to avoid the delivery charges and potential damage to a safety item that's going to protect my noggin!

I tried on various helmets with the aid of a very helpful employee (whose name I've since forgotten) before settling on this Salewa Aria as the best option for me.

I'll be honest, I went in looking for a Black Diamond Capitan thinking it looked the best, but it wasn't comfortable on my small head, and held like it was sat on the top of my head and not around it. Then I tried the Petzl Meteora, which was completely the wrong shape for my head. Then I tried the Mammut Crag Sender which just didn't have the adjustability I needed (otherwise it did seem like a good option.

Then I was offered the Salewa Aria, a brand and helmet I'd not have heard of before, and probably wouldn't have looked at online for that reason. I wouldn't say I'm a brand snob, but for safety items I'd tend to stick to the same couple of brands. For me though, the Salewa Aria helmet fits perfectly, has the adjustability I want and need, has good ventilation and great protection while coming in at a light weight. Not too light that it feels like there is nothing there, I'm strange and like my helmet to fit well and be light, but not silly light that you can't tell if you've not put one on. Overall I'd recommend this helmet.

Morals of the story:
a) give other brands a chance, just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean you won't like it
b) try on helmets in store, with RockRun's friendly and knowledgeable staff. They also turned out to be the cheapest place to buy one at the time (online or in store, by a good £10+ at the time) of purchase.